Houston Dynamo 2-2 New York Red Bulls: Ballouchy hands New York a late draw in Houston

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Goal.com

May 21, 2011 11:45:00 PM

The New York Red Bulls and the Houston Dynamo played out a 2-2 draw at Robertson Stadium thanks to late heroics from Mehdi Ballouchy.

On a humid Saturday night in Houston, the New York Red Bulls dramatically came back to draw the Houston Dynamo 2-2 in front of a 25,314 crowd at Robertson Stadium.

First Half

The match started out in fairytale fashion for the visiting side as a long ball from the Red Bulls back line was brought down by Luke Rodgers who laid it off to a charging Dane Richards.

Richards drilled it low, but well, and the ball skipped past Tally Hall to put the Red Bulls up 1-0 in the first minute of play.

Houston tried to get back into it as soon as possible and earned a penalty in the 11th minute of the match when Mexican international Rafa Marquez clipped Will Bruin on a dangerous cutting attack in the box. Brad Davis stepped up to the spot against New York goalkeeper Greg Sutton. Davis used his veteran savvy to hook the ball away from Sutton and leave things level in Houston.

Houston continued pressing and earned a notable chance in the 26th minute when Geoff Cameron sent a long ball to the back post where Bobby Boswell headed it back to Will Bruin, only to see it blocked out for a corner.

Things got a little out of hand for the Red Bulls in the 34th when Dwayne De Rosario inadvertently flicked the ball towards Sutton, who tipped it over the bar. It was a dangerous situation that could've ended in an own goal for New York.

Both sides continued creating significant chances, but the score stayed level as New York and Houston headed into the locker rooms with a 1-1 scorline.

Second Half

The second half started out with New York trying to again build up the momentum early on and it surely did when De Rosario found Rodgers, who sprung Richards. The Jamaican's shot was blocked out for a corner kick, but it was a well-developed attack nonetheless.

Two minutes later, the Red Bulls struck again. Luke Rodgers was found open and volleyed the ball straight into the hands of Hall.

The Red Bulls continued their second half domination with another De Rosario threat. This time, the former TFC player curled his free kick effort just wide of the goal. This came in the 68th minute of play.

The Dynamo's next chance came in the 82nd minute and was enough to give them a 2-1 lead. Brad Davis's corner was initially redirected, but blocked back into play. However, Koke was in the right place at the right time to put Houston ahead.

The best was yet to come for New York.

After coach Hans Backe placed De Rosario up top with Rodgers along with Balluochy playing directly behind the two, good things came out of it.

In a congested Houston box in the first minute of stoppage time, Ballouchy was able to isolate himself and head a Lindpere corner home to level the scoreline.

With little time left to change the outcome, Houston had to tolerate a 2-2 draw at Robertson Stadium. This places the Red Bulls in second place and Houston third in the Eastern Conference standings.

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